Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-05-06

flnppOi tnnJ nc nau hmOJncr ana
step-father; also n baby sister, VIII
looked like an angel in n picture. Hi
stepfathcr who was scrittore, q
public writer, never did any work, an
boat him, and he hoped he would di
cS apoploxy. The padrona remonstrat
ed, and Aunt Betsy was so shockc
that she forgot every word of Italian
she knew, and eXhorted him earnestl
in English 1t was all without effect
his black eyes flashed, and he repeated
the remark with emphasis.
Angelica finally appearing, my aun
gave Filippo ten cents and dismissed
him; he looked Mt the dirty bit of pa
per increduously, and asked the pa
drona If it was real. She said it was
and great deal too much for him
looking at Aunt Betscy repronchful!y
rs she said it, for she discountcnanceC
extravaganza.
The next day she raised the rent
Three weeks later we met Filippc
again. We were walking, guide-booh
in hand through the intcrminable net
work of narrow streets in the neighbor.
hood of the tomb of Augusta--it Is
now used ms theater-nnd aunt Bet.
scy was delivering n homily on the
vanity of human greatness, when we
suddenly stumbled on our little friend
Mt his place of business.
He had torn gaudy theater-postcr
from the wall, and had arranged there
on two rows of cigar-stumps He rec
ognizcd us Immediately, and rose when
we stopped, bowling with courtly po-
likeness.
We asked him how the baby was, and
then inquired after the health of his
step-fathcr Not muscle of his face
quivercd, but mischief looked from his
eyes, MS he raised his little brown
thumb and pointed over his shoulder
at tall, handsome young fellow, who
was lounging against the wall near by,
and regarding us with avaricious Curl
osty.
In low voice, Filippo told us that
his worthless relative had taken the ten
soldi we had paid him, and pounded
him into the bargain for objocting.
"If the signora would make me n
present." said the little rascal. twink
ling, "manage to shove it under the
paper, he is watching us"
They think we are made of money"
said Aunt Bctsey to me, "but he is such
cute little chap"-and she slipped a
sopper coin under the paper as she
stopped down, under prctcnce of exam
ing his stock-in-tradc.
Before we reached the corner, we
heard an angry, childish treble and
shrek, and looking back, saw poor
Filippo picking his cigar-cnds from
the gutter, while his step-father impu-
IDENTIFY held up the coin for us to see,
al wouh like to thump himr said
Aunt Betsey, Indignantly.
That evening we were surprised with
call from the dealer in stumps, and
still further surprised by his requesting
us to reimburse him for the loss sus-
tanned by his step-father's theft, whose
bones he hoped the ravens would pick.
After expressing to me her opinions
of Italians in general, and Filippo in
particular in good Vermont vernacu-
lar Aunt Betsey yielded to the pathetic
anxiety in his black eyes, and granted
his naive request.
He came often after that, no doubt
with the hopo of charming imprisoned
soldi from our purses to his pocket, al
though l think Aunt Betsey's weird
Italian had also fascination for him.
He certainly had fascination for us.
When he failed to appear for day or
two, we sought him, under pretext of
visiting an old curiosity shop in the
same street.
We grew fond of him; he made
oasis of human interest for us in tho
desert of that crowded city,-and such
sad old city!-where we were such
total strangers.
One day we called at the stump-de-
pot, but the establishment was closed,
and Filippo not to be found. To our
anxious inquiries among group of
children, "Non sol" was the only re-
ply,
We returned again and again, and
looked for him in all sorts of by places,
until at last our fidelity was rewarded.
In the church at st. Carlo we sat listen
ing to the music, when called Aunt
Betsy's attention to man bowling be-
fore the altar until his forehead touch
ed the floor, praying, crossing himself
with the most rapt piety l thought |
had never seen more devout wor-
shipper When he raised his handsome
face, and we recognized Filippo's step
father, we restrained ourselves with
difficulty from pouncing upon him in
the midst of his devotions, and demand
ing the whereabouts of ourpet. When
he left, we followed, and overlook him
on the steps.
"Where's FilippoP" gaspcd my aunt.
In response, he poured forth flood
of musical speech, which seemed all
vowels, and completely swamped us.
AT last he toned down. Did not the
most beneiiccnt signora and the most
beautiful signorina knowP Poor Flip
po was sick! No doctor, no medicine,
no food, because he-most unhappy,
most nnfortunate-had not a soldo
wherewith to buy. Would the signora,
most angelic, pity poor man.
My aunt replied, with some asperity,
that she would not. Filippo's impre-
cations had prejudiced us against this
honest gentleman.
A red cloud of anger flushed his dark
face at the refusal, though not mus
Gle moved. When we promised to visit
the sick boy, and asked his street and
number, he tried first to evade the
question, and then to discourage us,
but at length gave us direction which
we suspected was false. 1t was false;
it led us to the palace of a cardinal.
But strange to say, net five minutes
walk from the great house, we STUN
bled upon our little friend, pale and
lnnOuid sittino in n match of sunshine